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No Peace in Barnyard with Him Gone

Two years ago my wife and I moved from Pensacola, Fla. to Oklahoma avenue in Vineyard Haven. One afternoon as I was riding my bicycle around the state forest, close to the Vineyard Youth Tennis club, I saw a big red rooster standing in the middle of the path. Having grown up in rural South Carolina I notice animals and have been doing animal rescue for years. The rooster was a magnificent sight, standing tall with his chest out. His feathers, full of incredible colors, sparkled in the sunlight.

Every time I went bicycling in that area I saw the rooster. I realized that he was living under a pine tree with nothing. I went to SBS and bought a big bag of cracked corn from Liz. The rooster flew down from high above and ate like he had never seen food before.

I continued to check on him, bringing fresh water and food. As winter approached I could not stand the thought of him living outside in harsh conditions. I went to E.C. Cottle up on the north end of the Island and started buying wood. I have been a woodworker for 40 years and love the old architecture. I started building a small salt box chicken coop for him. I didn’t cut any corners. The guys at Cottles would say to me, “Your hot tub and central heat have come in for the rooster.”

I insulated the coop with a heat lamp system.

One night a hard rain fell and I grew worried. As soon as the sun came up, I went to check on him and he was setting under the little pine tree. I told him, Well, you have a home now and it’s time to go. Then the fun began.

After three or four hours of climbing over and under every tree and branch in the woods, I was worn out but I had him in the car and was headed for home. When I got there my wife, Peggy, had already put out fresh food and water in his new home. I put him in there and he started throwing the hay around and scratching the ground for bugs.

Bright and early the next morning there was the best crowing you could ever want to hear. I went out and talked to the rooster and it was like we had been friends forever. He has three-inch-long spurs that would scare most people but he doesn’t have an aggressive bone in him.

About a week later a lady knocked on the door. “Do you have a rooster,” she asked.

“Yes, I do,” I said.

“Well, I am Animal Control and we have a complaint.”

I said, “Okay, I will turn my guitar down when I play.”

“No, I’m here about the rooster,” she said. “I need to see him.”

When I showed her to his coop, she said that he was the biggest rooster on the Vineyard and asked where I got him. When I told her, she said people on the Island that don’t want roosters throw them out there to die. She also said I had to write a report about him to show her supervisor and that she needed to know the rooster’s name. Being a historian, I thought of my favorite movie, Jeremiah Johnson, and how tough it was for the character played by Robert Redford to survive in the wilderness with nothing. I told her his name was Jeremiah Johnson.

A week later the woman returned with her supervisor. They said some neighbors couldn’t live with Jeremiah crowing in the morning and that I needed to conceal him until at least past the morning sound ordinance.

As the weather turned colder, I brought Jeremiah inside and put him in a nice crate in a heated room with some food and water. I did this the whole winter. When spring arrived we had to leave the Island because the house we were living in went to summer rentals. We were offered a place with friends in Chappaqua until we could return in the fall. I couldn’t take Jeremiah with us and although I hated to leave him there was an animal farm on North Road. The people there said they would keep him and take good care of him.

I called a lot from Chappaqua and they always said Jeremiah was fine.

Things took a turn when my wife’s 93-year-old mother who lives in west Florida became gravely ill. We decided to winter down south to be near her. We moved to a quaint little town named Magnolia Springs, Ala. It is like being in the old south with antebellum homes and giant oak trees covering every street, a town like in the movie Forest Gump.

After living down south for a month I received a call from the wonderful animal rescue woman on the Vineyard.

“You better hurry and come get Jeremiah,” she said.

“Why?”

“Because he is pitiful,” she said.

I rented a van and headed north to get him. My son and I went to the farm and I just about died. Jeremiah was living in a tiny cage that had never been cleaned. He had no water or food either, and was so emaciated that I didn’t recognize him. Nearly all of his beautiful feathers were gone, too, and he was infested with mites and parasites.

I took him with me back to a home in Katama and tried to clean and comfort him and gave him food and water. I wasn’t sure he would live. The next day I caught the ferry and headed back south. I put Jeremiah in a nice carrying crate and he began to make a little purring sound as we drove. After a while I decided he had been locked up for too long. I pulled over and put him in the passenger seat. When I stopped for gas two women asked to take a picture saying they couldn’t believe I had a rooster riding with me. Every time I stopped on the drive home another crowd formed and took pictures, including some college girls at Auburn University. At a Cracker Barrel restaurant near Richmond, Va, I was given four extra corn muffins. I crumbled then up for Jeremiah and he was so happy he started eating and cackling at the same time.

When I finally arrived in Magnolia Springs, I took Jeremiah to a country veterinarian named Adam Langston. Within two months of Dr. Langston’s care, Jeremiah was healthy and himself again.

Folks in Magnolia Springs now bring Jeremiah corn muffins from Cracker Barrel, including a former Top Gun fighter pilot. On Easter Sunday the mayor’s wife dropped by. She said on behalf of the town she hoped that Jeremiah never goes back north. My daughter in law has worked for 20 years at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif. She said everyone at the studio is in love with Jeremiah Johnson, and that Robert Redford would be proud.

Comments (24)

lara7, Edgartown

Great story! I can't believe people just dump any living creature to die of starvation or the cold; should be fined, bigtime. Reprehensible.
Live on Jeremiah. Why can't people take responsibility? Living creatures feel pain, something many don't seem to grasp. Well done Mr. Boyleston. Hero of the day!

Lara, thanks for the post that you did., The Animal Control lady told me that State Forest has been a dumping ground for unwanted Roosters and other animals for along time, she said they just setbthere and die, I litterally was just appalled at the thought of it, Heartless is a good word for some one who could do that, Jeremiah when I found him had lived through the prior winter 2 years ago when the whole Island was covered in a heavy coating of ice, the Veterinarian told me the that the Crown Roosters usually have was gone because of severe frost bite, that it turns black and fell off. I believe that every living creature on this Earth feels pain and Love as well, thats what I have given to Jeremiah. The Vet was amazed at how a big Rooster with 3 inch spurs would lay in my lap and let me massage his back and fall to sleep. Not one ounce of being aggressive. I was really impressed on Easter when the Mayors wife came by to check on him. He has many admirers from every where. i feed animals at dumpsters everyday of the week, Morning and Night, they all wait for me to come, and even though I can't pick them up, I know they are gratefull, thanks again, Steve

I'm a former year round Vineyarder, now living on a farm in VT with pet chickens including roosters. I love you for taking care of Jeremiah Johnson and caring so much for him. I also happen to be the Animal Control Officer in my town, so I appreciate the issues. I love your story, and btw, that's my favorite movie of all time, too. A perfect name for a very lucky rooster. I'm giving you a One Coop Award from my chicken, Betty who now lives in Heaven, but you could visit her facebook page if you like: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betty.was.here/?bookmark_t=group

Rae, I know that you miss Betty., they are all specal, I also hope that you help many animals, they all deserve our Help., thanks so much, Steve Boyleston., ps. i lived in Rutland along time and love Vermont.

I am actually your daughter-in laws cousin. We have a farm with lots of animals, including chickens & roosters. If you ever find yourself needing a home for this beautiful fellow he is always welcome here.

I personally know Jeremiah and visited him in the Vineyard along with Steve and Peggy. He truly is a magnificent Rooster who has lived too many hardships to count. Bless you Steve and Peggy for allowing him to live and Crow on Brother!! Hope to see ya'll and him again soon. V/R, Roy and Debbie.

I personally know Jeremiah as my wife Debbie and I visited him along with Steve and Peggy on the Vineyard. He truly is a magnificent Rooster who has suffered to many hardships to count. Bless you Steve and Peggy Boyleston for allowing him to live and Crow on Brother. We hope to see him and ya'll again soon. V/R Roy and Deb.

What a great person you are to rescue that rooster. We have chickens and a rooster and I can not imagine just dumping one to die. I hope they start punishing people for doing that. How cruel. Again great job!

Steve,
Since you are such a fan of "Jeremiah Johnson" it might be interesting for you to know that the actor who played Reverend Lindquist was none other than summer resident Paul Benedict who sadly passed away several years ago. Paul would have loved JJ as he was known for his love of animals, particularly the up Island raccoon population. He was a wonderful man and friend to many many Islanders, including myself.

Hello Cecil, its so nice to see that people around the country are reading the Gazette. Its really nice that you posted Pauls History on the Vineyard, he would really be proud of Jeremiah, and you are right that I am a Fan of the Movie, when I found the big rooster living like he did through a very icey Winter, my thoughts went to Jeremiah Johnson when he first got to the Rockies and was living in 3 feet of snow by himself with nothing, thats when I said this Rooster has a name, and so far everyone that has seen him says That Jeremiah Johnson is fitting and that Robert Redford would be proud, thanks again njce to meet you, Steve

The place where Jerimiah was thought to be taken care,while Steve had to leave him for a while, on the Island, should be closed down...the animals are in deplorable conditions and thought of as "just animals". These animals are never "Just animals". They are living, breathing, sentient beings with every right to a full and happy life as we as humans do. Jerimiah was close to death on this horrific "farm" in Chilmark. Left alone, out in the hot sun day after day with a filthy dirty small, foul-smelling chicken coup for shelter.

I would like everyone on the Vineyard to know that SFM is an Should be called " The Angel of the Vineyard" she for years , every day of the week feeds stray unwanted animals all over the Vineyard, out of hervown pocket, never asking for any Donations to help buy food. She is not one of the Wealthy but has the biggest Heart of all. She buys corn to feed the Deer in the hard Winter months when food us scarce. I didn't realize that Jeremiah was near death until she calked me and said get here quick , thanks again Suzie. The Residents of the Vineyard are lucky to have her and should help her buy very needed food., she would never ask anyone for a cent! If anyone reads this and would like to help her., let me know., it will make you feel good inside and its very rewarding to help a poor hungry animal not live in misery., if you can't help an Angel help the helpless who can you help! You can contact me Steve Boyleston

I know Jeremiah very well and have visited him on the Vineyard and Magnolia Springs! My wife bakes cornbread for him and sends it next day Fedex. I was on a visit to the Vineyard during the coldest winter in our history and Jeremiah did not have a home at that time so he was given the perfect name considering that he lived thru such extreme cold weather. We last visited him and family just a couple of months ago and he always remembers us and wants to be rubbed. I have never seen a rooster with such a cool personality! My father was very lucky to find such an amazing, smart, loving animal. I look forward to seeing him again, Jeremiah is the King! Rooster....

This Rooster is a STAR! I'm going to pitch Letterman (Ellen or Leno), he and Steve would make a great guest segment! I want Cracker Barrel to take notice and maybe sponsor! Next up, Steve and Jeremiah on the road, a cock-a doodle tour if you will, sponsored by Cracker Barrel! Yes, I bake him organic corn bread and send it fed ex, only the best for our boy! I grew up in a farm town with tons of animals, but never met a rooster as smart and cool as Jeremiah Johnson. Bless Steve for saving him, good karma all around! xo, S

I'll try this again without using the c word for rooster, I guess I was denied. Jeremiah is a rock star! I'm hoping Cracker Barrel with sponsor the Steve + Jeremiah's US tour with stops on Letterman, Ellen and Leno :) I grew up in a small farm town around lots of amazing animals. I have to say Jeremiah is the smartest and coolest bird I've ever had the pleasure to meet. Yes, I bake him cornbread and fedex it from CA to his doorstep, he is the best. Bless my father-in-law Steve for saving him and making him part of the family -- along our pride of cats :)

Hello on the Vineyard., just an update., it has been 2 years since I brought Jeremiah South like the rest of the northerners in the Winter., he has some mighty fine Children that re all World Champions., just magnificent Roosters as beautiful as any anywhere in the world. He would never have lasted in State Forest another Winter without food and water., to who ever threw him away., I would like to thank you., and on that note you have really missed out on a wonderful magnificent Creation of God.